Automatic scribing machine

ABSTRACT

A pair of carriages are movable in mutually orthogonal directions and include guides which cross or intersect and which extend perpendicular to the directions of carriage movements. The guides overlie a table upon which a pattern is placed and a manually movable targeting member slidably engages the guides at their intersection and carries a window having a cross hair sight. In moving the targeting member so that the cross hairs align with a desired point on the pattern, the guides and carriages are moved. Another table is disposed below the pattern table and upon which the plate to be scribed is positioned. Tractors are provided, one of which is movable in the direction of one carriage and carries a track projecting perpendicular to such direction. The other tractor is movable along the track and carries a retractable stylus. A joy stick control switch is provided on the targeting device to cause either one of the tractors to move in one direction only and the tractors include switches which are operated according to the locations of the guides to stop tractor movement. xhe tractor switches effect reverse motion of the tractors if the guides overrun the tractors. Precise positioning of the tractors is effected by toothed latch bars which have a number of sets of teeth, each set having a different pitch.

United States Patent [191 Hunt 51 Jan.30, 1973 [54] AUTOMATIC SCRIBINGMACHINE [75] Inventor: Robert A. Hunt, Silver Creek, NY.

[73] Assignee: F. M. Biggar, Jr., Hamburg, NY.

[22] Filed: Dec. 29, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 213,514

[52] US. Cl. ..33/24 C [51] Int. Cl. ..B43l13/10 [58] Field of Search..33/24 R, 24 C [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,282,44211/1966 Biggley et al. ..33/24 C FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS France..33/24 C Canada ..33/24 R Primary Examiner-Harry N. HaroianAttorney-John P. Snyder et al.

nunnmunmmu 56 ABSTRACT A pair of carriages are movable in mutuallyorthogonal directions and include guides which cross or intersect andwhich extend perpendicular to the directions of carriage movements. Theguides overlie a table upon which a pattern is placed and a manuallymovable targeting member slidably engages the guides at theirintersection and carries a window having a cross hair sight. 1n movingthe targeting member so that the cross hairs align with a desired pointon the pattern, the guides and carriages are moved. Another table isdisposed below the pattern table' and upon which the plate to be scribedis positioned. Tractors are provided, one of which is movable in thedirection of one carriage and carries a track projecting perpendicularto such direction. The other tractor is movable along the track andcarries a retractable stylus. A joy stick control switch is provided onthe targeting device to cause either one of the tractors to move in onedirection only and the tractors include switches which are operatedaccording to the locations of the guides to stop tractor movement. xhetractor switches effect reverse motion of the tractors if the guidesoverrun the tractors. Precise positioning of the tractors is effected bytoothed latch bars which have a number of sets of teeth, each set havinga different pitch.

7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures lllll PAIENTEDJAN30 ma W m 5 3713.223

60 FIG. I

FIG. 2

PATENTEDJAH 30 I975 SHEET 2 BF 5 FIG. 4

PATENTEDJAII 30 1975 mun H I les SHEET U 0F 5 FIG. 6

AUTOMATIC SCRIBING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the graphicarts, it is frequently necessary to provide a printing plate having aformat or pattern thereon which conforms accurately to desireddimensions. An example is encountered in the making of printing platesfor printing upon computer paper wherein the computer paper hashorizontal and vertical line spacings with which the format must beaccurately aligned.

At the present time, skilled operators are required accurately toscribe, by hand, lines through the ethchant resistant coating on aprinting plate, such line having the proper weight and the format formedby and within the scribed lines being accurately dimensioned andpositioned so that the plate when completed will print accurately uponthe computer paper.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to amachine wherein scribing as above described is achieved automaticallyand with accuracy so as to dispense with the need for skilled operatorsto effect the laying out of formats as described above.

Generally speaking, the present invention involves the use oforthogonally crossing guides which overlie an upper table upon which themaster pattern is placed, the guides being coupled together at theirpoint of crossing by means of a manually movable member which carriescross hairs or a siting point which may be .brought into alignment witha desired or selected point on the master pattern. In combination withthis arrangement, there is provided a lower table upon which theprinting plate in preparation is placed.

A first tractor is movable back and forth along a path parallel to oneof the guides and it carries a track which is perpendicular to suchmovement and is therefore parallel to the other guide. A second tractoris movable back and forth along the track and it carries a stylus whichmay be moved selectively into and out of engagement with the printingplate under preparation, the track overlying the region of the second orlower table which carries the printing plate under preparation.

The tractors are slaved to movements of the guides in one direction sothat the tractors always automatically return to a predeterminedrelative position with respect to the guides. When the guides are movedin the opposite sense, however, no automatic slaving motion of thetractors is effected. Instead, the tractors are under manual switchcontrols such as either to move from the aforesaid relativepredetermined position in a direction parallel to the one guide or in adirection parallel to the other guide. When the tractors are undercontrol of the manual switch means, automatic switch means stops thetractors in the proper coordinate positions corresponding to thelocation of the stylus at the desired point corresponding to the sitingpoint of the targeting means.

Additionally, provision is made for slowing down the drive motors foreach of the tractors as the tractors approach the coordinate positionsas aforesaid under control of the manual switch means.

Still further, toothed latch bars are associated with each tractor andan automatically operable latch is engagable with a corresponding latchbar positively to position the tractor at the coordinate position of thestylus. The latch bars are providedwith plural sets of teeth, each 'sethaving a different pitch corresponding to different line spacings of thecomputer paper upon which the format is to be printed and these sets ofteeth are selectively positionable for cooperation with the latches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a top plan view of amachine according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the plane ofsection 3-3 in FIG. 2 and showing details of the tractors and of thelower table;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view, partly in section, illustratingdetails as indicated by section line 4- 4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along theplane of section line 5-5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially along theplane of section line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial elevational view showing certain details of theswitch mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a vertical section taken substantially along the plane ofsection line 8-8 in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a wiring diagram illustrating certain principles of operationof the present machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference now moreparticularly to FIG. 5 the machine consists essentially of a framecomposed of various structural members hereinafter more particularlypointed out but which may include a base indicated by the referencecharacter 10 and which may, as shown, provide an upper platform or table12 upon which is placed a frame 14 carrying a printing plate 16 inpreparation, it being appreciated that the printing plate 16 is disposedin predetermined fixed relationship with respect to the lower table 12,as will hereinafter become apparent. The frame of the machine supportsan upper table 18 which, in the instance shown, is atransparent sheet ofglass or the like and upon this upper table there is placed a masterpattern member 20, also in predetermined fixed relationship thereto andbearing a predetermined fixed relationship to the printing member 16,all as will hereinafter be apparent.

Associated with the lower table or platform 12 there is an elongate rack22 having a pinion 24 in mesh therewith, the pinion being carried by ashaft 26.

suitably journalled as at 28 and carried by the frame of a tractor meansindicated generally by the reference character 30. The upper end of theshaft 26 carries a gear 32 which in turn is in mesh with the pinion gear34 driven by a motor 36 which is mounted on the horizontal leg 38 of thetractor means frame. The tractor means 30 moves into and out of the pageas shown in FIG. 5 and this tractor means includes a track memberindicated generally by the reference character 40 which projectsperpendicular to the direction of movement of such tractor means 30, asshown, and which overlies the the lower table 12 and, in particular, theprinting plate member 16 positioned thereon.

The track 40 carries a second rack 42 and operative- 1y associated withthis second rack 42 is a second tractor means indicated generally by thereference character 44. In particular, the motor 46 of the secondtractor means drives a pinion 48 which is in mesh with the gear 50, thepinion 48 and gear 50 corresponding to the pinion 34 and gear 32described in conjunction with the first mentioned tractor means. Thegear 50 is mounted at the upper end of a shaft 52, the lower end ofwhich carries a pinion engaging the rack 42, Thus, the second tractormeans 44 is movable back and forth, left to right in FIG. perpendicularor orthogonal to the direction of movement of the first mentionedtractor means 30. Mounted on the frame of the second tractor means 44 isa stylus means indicated generally by the reference character 54 whichcarries a plurality of individual stylii 56, one of which is selectedfor operation (i.e. the vertically disposed stylus in FIG. 5) dependentupon the weight of line to be scribed on the printing plate member 16.As will hereinafter appear, the stylus means 54 is movable verticallyinto and out of engagement with the printing plate 16, the stylus meansnormally being out of engagement therewith as will hereinafter appear.

Associated with the upper plate, as can be seen in FIG. I, first andsecond carriage means are provided, as indicated by the referencecharacters 58 and 60. The first carriage means 58 is slidablelongitudinally of an elongate guide bar 62 rigidly affixed to the frameof the machine and there is likewise provided an elongate guide bar 64rigidly attached to the frame of the machine along which the secondcarriage means 60 is longitudinally slidable, as will be readilyappreciated. The first carriage means or guide means 58 operates to moveback and forth along a path parallel to the path along which the firsttractor means 30 moves whereas the second carriage means 60 is arrangedto move back and forth along a direction perpendicular thereto or moreparticularly back and forth in a direction parallel to the direction ofmovement along which the second tractor means 44 is allowed to move.Thus, both the carriage means and the tractor means are adapted to movein mutually orthogonal directions and the movements of the two systemsare accurately aligned as aforesaid.

The first carriage means 58 includes an elongate guide 66 which extendsperpendicular to the direction of the guide bar 62 and overlies theupper table 18 as shown whereas the second carriage means 60 alsoincludes a guide 68 which is perpendicular to the axis of the guide bar64 and which also overlies the upper table 18 and, thereby, crosses theguide 66. A targeting means indicated generally by the referencecharacter 70 slidably engages both the guide 66 and the guide 68 attheir crossing points and is manually movable to any desired positionwith respect to the master pattern so as to cause correspondingmovements of the carriage means 58-and 60 as will be readily apparent.The targeting means 70 includes a window 72 having a site or cross hairs74 so that the targeting means may be accurately aligned with a desiredpoint on the master pattern member 20. The master pattern 20 as shown inFIG. 1 contains vertical and horizontal lines corresponding to acomputer paper standard format and, within this'format there is providedthe various lines as shown in the dark or heavy line portions in FIG. 1which is desired to be printed upon the computer paper in an accuratelydimensioned and positioned relationship. It is the pattern of theseheavy lines in FIG. 1 that is desired to be scribed on the printingplate member 16 in FIG. 5 by the stylus means 54.

The targeting means mounts a joystick control 76, see particularly FIG.5 and a depressable thumb switch button 78, the latter of which isdepressable as indicated by the arrow 80. The joystick control 76 ismovable in either one of the directions as indicated by the arrows 82and 84 in FIG. 1 correspondingly to control operation of the tractormeans 30 and 44. Before proceeding further with detailed description ofthe mechanical aspects of the present invention, reference is had atthis time to FIG. 9 wherein the general principles of operation will beapparent.

In FIG. 9, the switch operated by the thumb button 78 is indicated bythe reference character and is operative, when depressed, to energizethe winding 92 which controls operation of the stylus means 54. Theswitch controlled by the joystick 76 when same is moved in the directionof the arrow 84 is indicated by the reference character 94 andisoperative to control operation of the motor 36 as hereinafterdescribed. Likewise, the joystick switch which is operated when same ismoved in the direction of the arrow 82 is indicated by the referencecharacter 96 and same controls operation of the motor 46 within theconstraints hereinafter described.

There are four automatically controlled switches associated with eachmotor 36 and 46, those associated with motor 36 are indicated in FIG. 9by the reference character 98, 100, 102, and 104 whereas thoseassociated with the motor 46 are indicated by reference characters 106,108, and 112. As shown, the power input terminals which are i terminalsare indicated by the reference characters 114 and 116 and are connecteddirectly to several of the switches. For instance, the switch 94includes a contact 118 which is directly connected to the minus terminal116 and a contact 120 directly connected to the plus terminal 114 sothat the movable contact of the switch 94 is energized from either oneof these sources. The switch 94 is connected to the fixed contact 122 ofthe switch 100 whose movable contact is connected to one end of thewinding of the motor 56. The return path for the winding of the motor 36is through the conductor 124 and the switch 104 and, in seriestherewith, the switch 102. In the condition of the switches as shown inFIG. 9, it will be evident that both sides of the motor 36 are connectedto the negative terminal 116 so that the motor will not be energized tomove in either direction of rotation. In the event that the joystickcontrol is actuated, however, such that the movable contact of theswitch 94 engages the fixed contact 120, the motor 36 will be energizedin one direction of rotation which is such as to cause the tractor means30 to move in the direction of the arrow 84 in FIG. I, under certainconditions as will be presently described. Assuming that the switches98, 100 and 102 as well as the switch 104 are in the positions shown inFIG. 9 while the tractor means 30 is still moving, the tractor means 30,and the track 40 with it, will move downwardly in FIG. 1 until acondition is reached wherein first the switch 104 is operated such thatits movable contact engages the fixed contact 130 which places the addedresistance 132 in circuit with the motor 36 thereby to slow down itsrate of rotation and thereby to slow the motion of the tract means 30.Subsequent to this, the switch 98, 100 and 102 are operated. When theswitch 102 is actuated, its movable contact moves out of contact withthe fixed contact 134 connected to the negative terminal 116 andsimultaneously the movable contact of the switch 100 moves away from itsfixed contact 122 so that now both sides of the circuit to the motor 36are open. Simultaneously, the movable contact of the switch 98 engagesthe fixed contact 136 so that the winding 138 is energized. As willhereinafter appear, the winding 138 actuates a latch mechanismpositively to arrest the motion of the tractor means 30 at the desiredpoint. At this point in time, as will hereinafter appear more clearly,the two switches 98 and 100 have been moved to their full actuatedpositions whereby the movable contact of the switch 100 is away from thecontact 122 and the movable contact of the switch 98 is in engagementwith the fixed contact 136 whereas, at the same time, the movablecontact of the switch 102 is not touching either of its fixed contacts134 or 138. It is assumed, of course, that at this time the joystick isreleased so that the switch 94 returns to the position shown in FIG. 9.

A similar operation takes place for the control of the motor 46. It isappreciated, of course, that the winding 142 is the winding whichactuates the latch means associated with the motor 46.

To appreciate better the operation of the switch means and the deviceaccording to the present invention, reference is had at this time toFIGS. 6 and 7 in conjunction with FIG. 9. In FIG. 6, it will be seenthat the first carriage means 58 includes a switch camming plate 150including a tang 152 cooperable with the several fingers 154, 156 and158 of the rotatable camming member 160. The normal position of theassemblies are as is shown in FIG. 7 wherein the switch camming plate150 and its associated tang 156 are positioned relatively to theswitching cam 160 in the fashion indicated so that the spring 162 whichis anchored at one end to the frame portion 164 of the tractor means 30and at its other end on the member 160 is over center with respect tothe pivot shaft 166 of the switch cam. This places the finger 154 in theupright position as shown with the shorter fingers 156 and 158essentially at the angles shown so that the finger 156 will clearbeneath the tang 152 as will be evident. However, the finger 154 will bein position to be struck and moved by the tang 152.

The frame portion 164 carries a switch body 170 which contains the twoswitches 98 and 100 in FIG. 9. The actuating button 172 of one of whichis shown in FIG. 7 and there are two spring leaf actuators 174cooperating with the switches (see particularly FIG. 5). The movablecontact of the switch 102 is actuated by the finger 158 and the fixedcontacts 134 and 140 are clearly shown in FIG. 7. Likewise, the actuator178 of the switch 104 is shown in FIG. 7 and will be seen to be operatedbefore the tang 152 reaches the upright finger 154 so that the sequenceof operations are hereinbefore described are effected with respect toplacing the additional resister 132 in circuit with the motor 36. Asstated before, the initial position of the assembly is as shown in FIG.7 and when the joystick switch 94 is actuated to move the tractor means30 in the direction of the arrow 180 in FIG. 7, that is toward thecarriage means 58 and the switch actuating plate thereof, the switchactuator 178 will first be engaged to slow the motor down whereafter thetang 152 will contact the finger 154 and move the switch cam to aposition in which the toe 182 of the cam fully depresses both actuators174 thereby to open the switch 100 and close the switch 98. At the sametime, the finger 158 will have released the movable contact of theswitch 102 sufficiently to permit it to disengage the fixed contact 134but not sufficiently to engage the other fixed contacts 140. Thus, theswitch 102 will be open at this time. Of course, the tractor means 30will have stopped at this point since the motor 36 is disconnected andthe latch means is operated to lock the tractor means in place at afixed position relative to the guide or carriage means 58 correspondingto the coordinate position thereof and thereby locating the stylus meansaccurately along this coordinate. Thereafter, movement of the joystickcontrol in the direction of the arrow 82 will effect a similar operationfor the motor 46 of the other or second tractor means 44 so that thestylus means 54 ends up at the precise point corresponding to the targetpoint under the cross hairs sites 74.

If, now, the carriage means 58 is moved in the direction of the arrow inFIG. 6, the tang 152 will move the finger 154 further so that the spring162 moves the camming block 1160 on the other side of center allowingthe finger 154 to strike the stop 192 and, more importantly, allowingthe finger 158 to permit the movable contact of the switch 102 to engagethe fixed contact 140. As soon as this movable contact of the switch 102has made contact with the fixed contact 140, the motor 36 will beenergized to operate in the reverse direction, it being appreciated thatthe toe 182 of the cam has released the actuators 174 so that thelatching switch 98 is opened and the switch 100 is closed. A similaraction occurs in connection with the motor 46 excepting that in the casefor the motor 46 and the corresponding tractor means 44, the cammingelement switches takes the form of an elongate angle member 200 fixed toand carried by the carriage means 60 as shown in FIG. 5, the verticallydepending leg of which first engages the cam bar 202, pivoted at'204 tothe frame of the tractor means 44 and which actuates the switch 112 toslow the motor 46 and thereafter, the operation is identical with thatdescribed in conjunction with FIGS. 6 and 7, see particularly FIG. 4'andthe switch actuating block 206 for the several switches 106, 108 and 110ofFIG. 9.

FIG. 4 shows the position of the switching block 206 when the tractormeans 44 has just reached the proper coordinate position and the circuitto the motor 46 is interrupted whereas the corresponding latch means isactuated.

As previously described in conjunction with FIG. 1, the two guide orcarriage means 58 and 60 are firmly guided along their respective bars62 and 64 and the guides 66 and 68 will be sufficiently rigid in ahorizontal plane to prevent any deflection thereof such as mightintroduce inaccuracies in the operation of the device. At least one ofthe guides 66 or 68, and as is shown for the guide 66 in FIG. 1, isprovided with an outboard roller or support means 190 which engages upona fixed frame portion of the machine, see also FIG. thereby lendingrigidity and support for the target means 70.

The track 40 is also of rigid construction and preferably takes the formof elongate channel member 192 as indicated in FIG. 8 having areinforcing and rigidifying guide rail 194 fixed thereto, the uppersurface of which forms a supporting surface for wheel members 196journalled on and carried by the frame of the tractor means 40 forobtaining vertical support thereof, see particularly FIG. 5. Theopposite ends of the track carry uprights 198 between which a supportmember 200 is fixed and such support member carries a dielectric plate202 having a number of electrically conductive rails 204 thereonsuitably connected to the electrical energy source and to the switchmeans of the targeting device 70 through the electrical cable 206 sothat the brushes 208 carried by the tractor means 44 may engagetherewith to make the proper electrical connections. Similarly, thetractor means 30 carries a plurality of brushes 210 engagable withelectrically conductive rails on a plate of dielectric material 212carried by the support member 214 which is rigidly affixed to the frameof the machine. Lateral stability of the tractor means 44 is achieved byvirtue of the wheels- (not shown) engaging opposite sides of the rail194.

A similar supporting arrangement for the tractor means 30 is provided,in the form of wheels 220 engaging the upper surface of the supportingrail 222 and in the form of pairs of wheels 224 and 226 engaging againstthe opposite side surfaces of such rail, see particularly FIGS. 5 and 6.

The outboard end of the track assembly 40 carries a suitable roller 220supporting the outboard end thereof on a suitable rail portion of theframe of the machine, substantially as is shown in FIG. 5.

' The winding 92 for actuating the stylus means is enclosed within acasing 222 as shown in FIG. 4 and drives an armature 224 to liftsameagainst the action of the spring 226 and thereby release its normallydownward-bearing pressure against the end 228 of a lever pivoted at 230on the frame of the tractor means 44. The other side of the lever isnormally urged downwardly under the action of the spring 232 which is,however, insufficiently strong to overcome the action of the spring 226when the armature 224 bears downwardly against the end portion 228. Whenthe armature is lifted, however, the weight of the stylus wheel 234which is pivotally carried by the lever plus the action of the spring232 rocks the lever downwardly so that the stylus which is in operativeposition engages with the requisite pressure to penetrate the film ofmaterial on the printing plate. As previously described, the operationof the winding 92 and thereby control of the stylus means is undercontrol of the thumb switch 78 of the joystick control device.

The latching means for the tractor means 30 takes the form of a verticallatching bar 240 as shown in FIG. 5 which is pivoted at 242 to the frameof the tractor means 30 and which at its lower end 244 is adapted toengage with teeth on one side of the latch bar 246. Suitable springbiasing means (not shown) tends normally to retract the lower end 244 ofthe latch bar 240 from engagement between teeth of the member 246 and asolonoid or like device 248 mounted on the frame of the tractor means 30is actuated by the switch 98, the winding being illustrated at 138 inFIG. 9, to cause the armature 250 to urge the bar 240 such that thelower end 244 of the bar engages the member 246. A generally similarsituation prevails for the latching mechanism of the tractor means 44,same being illustrated in FIG. 8. In this instance, the toothed bar isindicated by reference character 260 and the latching member isindicated by the reference character 262, being pivoted at one end at264 to the frame of the tractor means 44 and passing under the member260. A spring 266 normally urges the latching member 262 into engagementwith the member 260 but the spring urged armature 270 of the solonoid272 whose winding is indicated at 142 in FIG. 9 normally depresses themember 262 so that it can engage the bar 260. When the winding 142 isenergized, the spring action of the armature 270 is overcome to allowthe bar 262 to latch into engagement between teeth of the member 260.

It is a particular feature of the present invention that each of thetoothed members 246 and 260 are multifaced and each face is providedwith a series of teeth thereon, each series or set of teeth being ofdifferent pitch from the others and the various pitches corresponding toline spacings of standard computer paper. It is also a feature of thisinvention that the pitch of the teeth of a set may be utilized tocompensate for stretching of the printing plate when it is operativelyengaged with a printing cylinder and thereby to compensate therefore. Insuch instances, the pitches of the teeth will not be exactly in accordwith the physical and actual dimensions of the line spacings of thestandard computer paper.

Each of the members 246 and 260 may be rotated to place the requisiteset of teeth in cooperation with respective bars 240 and 262. Forexample, as is shown in FIG. 5, a knob 280 is provided at the end of themember 260 so as to selectively rotate the same against the action ofthe positioning lever 282 which is normally urged by the spring 284against the underside of the member 260 tending to prevent its rotationexcept as when overcome by turning of the knob 280. FIG. 8 shows asimilar arrangement for the member 246, the member 290 being pivoted at292 and spring urged at 294 normally to engage the under surface of themember 246 and prevent its rotation except when manipulated by the knob296 as shown in FIG. 3.

To assure adequate and proper positioning of the printing plate, as isillustrated in FIG. 3, side guide members 300 and 302 and a stop guide304 are provided for properly positioning the frame 14. Similarly,corner or edge marking indicia 306 may be provided on the top or uppertable 18 as shown in FIG. 1 or positive stops or guides will be providedto locate the master pattern member 20.

In operation, it will be apparent that because of the current-reversingoperation effected by the switches 102 and 110, the tractor means willtend always to return to the forth quadrant with respect to the sitingpoint at the site 74 when either the guide means 66 is moved upwardly inFIG. 1 or the guide 68 is moved to the left in FIG. 1, in either casesuch as to actuate the switch camming' block as previously described toachieve positions such as are shown in FIG. 6 of the drawing. Thus, forthese movements of the guides 66 and 68, as effected by the manuallyoperated target means 70, the tractors are slaved to the motions of theguides 66 and 68 which form part of the carriage or guide means 58 and60. For the opposite direction of movements of the guides 66 and 68,however, no motion will occur with respect to the tractor means untilthe joystick control is actuated. Thus, the operator will first positionthe target or site 74 in a position such as is shown in FIG. 1whereafter the joystick will be actuated to move the tractor means suchthat the stylus is at the coordinate point corresponding to the sitepoint. Then, the operator may for example move the target means 70 tothe right in FlG.. 1 so that the site 74 is at the opposite end of thetop, horizontal line. When such a position is reached, the operator maythen actuate the joystick in the direction of the arrow 82 whilesimultaneously depressing the thumb button for actuating the stylus andthe tractor means 44 will then move from its previous position to thenew position corresponding to the new siting point under the cross hairssite 74. As soon as the tractor means has reached the proper position,it will be automatically stopped and latched in place as aforesaid.

Alternatively, the operator could have moved the new siting point to thebottom of the vertical line in FIG. 1 and thereafter operated thejoystick control in the direction of the arrow 84 with the thumb switchdepressed whereby the tractor means 30 will move downwardly and carrywith it the track and the other tractor means so as to scribe a verticalline downwardly to the new siting point. in either case, returning forexample in a direction the position of the original siting point shownin FIG. 1 will cause the corresponding tractor means to be slaved tomove back toward and slightly past its original position. To reorientthe stylus in the proper position, the joystick control is momentarilyoperated in the proper direction. Obviously, a suitable indicating meanssuch as a light may be utilized in each instance to indicate that thetractor means in each case has reached its proper position.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine for scribing lines according to a desired pattern,comprising in combination:

a frame including a lower table and an upper table;

means for supporting a pattern on said upper table in predeterminedfixed relation thereto;

means for supporting a member to be scribed on said lower table inpredetermined fixed relation thereto;

first andsecond carriage means mounted on said frame for mutuallyorthogonal rectinlinear movement thereon; said first carriage meansincluding a first guide member projecting therefrom perpendicular to thedirection of movement of such first carriage means and in overlyingrelation to said upper table, said second carriage means including asecond guide member projecting therefrom perpendicular to the directionof movement of such second carriage means and in overlying relation tosaid upper table;

manually movable means for positioning said first and second carriagemeans in selected positions with respect to said pattern, said manuallymovable means slidably engaging both said first and said second guidemembers and including a point-indicating member adapted to be alignedwith a desired point on said pattern; first tractor means forrectilinear movement on said frame along a path parallel to thedirection of movement of said first carriage means, said first tractormeans including reversible drive means for effecting movement back andforth along said path and a track member projecting perpendicular tosaid path in overlying relation to said lower table;

second tractor means for rectilinear movement on said track memberparallel to the direction of movement of said second carriage means,said second tractor means including reversible drive means for effectingmovement back and forth along said track member;

stylus means carried by said second tractor means for selectedengagement with said member to be scribed;

first manual control means for causing the drive means of said firsttractor means to position said first tractor means in predeterminedrelation to said first carriage means and second manual control meansfor causing the drive means of said second tractor means to positionsaid second tractor means in predetermined relation to said secondcarriage means, whereby said stylus means is aligned with the member tobe scribed in accord with a selected point on the pattern; and

third manual control means for engaging said stylus means with themember to be scribed during actuation of either said first or saidsecond manual control means. I

2. A machine as defined in claim 1 including control means forautomatically actuating the drive means of said first and said secondtractor means to cause said stylus means always to follow said first andsecond carriage means in one direction of movement each thereof.

3. A machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said first and said secondmanual control means are effective to move said first and said secondtractor means only in those directions opposite to said one direction ofsaid first and said second carriage means.

4. A machine as defined in claim 3 including a first toothed latch barparalleling the direction of movement of said first tractor means, saidfirst tractor means including latch means for selectively engaging saidfirst latch bar and switch means engageable with said first carriagemeans for actuating said latch means; and including a second toothedlatch bar carried by said track member and paralleling the direction ofmovement of said second tractor means, said second tractor meansincluding second latch means for selectively engaging said second latchbar and switch means engageable with said second carriage means foractuating said second latch means. 7

5. A machine as defined in claim 4 wherein each latch bar is providedwith a plurality of sets of teeth of different pitch corresponding todifferent line spacings on a pattern, and means for selectivelypresenting any of said sets of teeth for engagement by the respectivelatch means.

6. A machine as defined in claim 5 including switch means on eachtractor means for slowing a respective drive means when same is in thevicinity of a respective carriage means.

7. A machine for scribing lines in preparation of a pointing plate inaccord with a master pattern, comprising in combination:

an upper table for receiving a master pattern;

a lower table for receiving a printing plate in preparation; a pair ofmovable guide means having orthogonally crossing portions overlying saidupper table;

targeting means slidably engaging said crossing portions of said pair ofguide means for. shifting the crossing point thereof to differentpositions corresponding to selected points on the master pattern, saidtargeting means including a sight for successive alignment with saidselected points;

first tractor means for movement back and forth along one path parallelto one of said crossing portions and including a track overlying saidlower table and extending parallel to the other crossing portion;

second tractor means for movement back and forth along said track;

stylus means carried by said second tractor means for movement into andout of engagement with the tions of (l) automatically moving said firstand second tractor means in directions opposite to said one directionsin response to movement of either guide means in such respectiveopposite direction which tends to move the sighting point relative tothe corresponding stylus position point in such opposite direction and(2) automatically stopping each tractor means as it moves in acorresponding one direction under control of said manually controlledswitch means when said stylus means reaches that coordinate positioncorresponding to said sighting point.

1. A machine for scribing lines according to a desired pattern,comprising in combination: a frame including a lower table and an uppertable; means for supporting a pattern on said upper table inpredetermined fixed relation thereto; means for supporting a member tobe scribed on said lower table in predetermined fixed relation thereto;first and second carriage means mounted on said frame for mutuallyorthogonal rectinlinear movement thereon; said first carriage meansincluding a first guide member projecting therefrom perpendicular to thedirection of movement of such first carriage means and in overlyingrelation to said upper table, said second carriage means including asecond guide member projecting therefrom perpendicular to the directionof movement of such second carriage means and in overlying relation tosaid upper table; manually movable means for positioning said first andsecond carriage means in selected positions with respect to saidpattern, said manually movable means slidably engaging both said firstand said second guide members and including a pointindicating memberadapted to be aligned with a desired Point on said pattern; firsttractor means for rectilinear movement on said frame along a pathparallel to the direction of movement of said first carriage means, saidfirst tractor means including reversible drive means for effectingmovement back and forth along said path and a track member projectingperpendicular to said path in overlying relation to said lower table;second tractor means for rectilinear movement on said track memberparallel to the direction of movement of said second carriage means,said second tractor means including reversible drive means for effectingmovement back and forth along said track member; stylus means carried bysaid second tractor means for selected engagement with said member to bescribed; first manual control means for causing the drive means of saidfirst tractor means to position said first tractor means inpredetermined relation to said first carriage means and second manualcontrol means for causing the drive means of said second tractor meansto position said second tractor means in predetermined relation to saidsecond carriage means, whereby said stylus means is aligned with themember to be scribed in accord with a selected point on the pattern; andthird manual control means for engaging said stylus means with themember to be scribed during actuation of either said first or saidsecond manual control means.
 1. A machine for scribing lines accordingto a desired pattern, comprising in combination: a frame including alower table and an upper table; means for supporting a pattern on saidupper table in predetermined fixed relation thereto; means forsupporting a member to be scribed on said lower table in predeterminedfixed relation thereto; first and second carriage means mounted on saidframe for mutually orthogonal rectinlinear movement thereon; said firstcarriage means including a first guide member projecting therefromperpendicular to the direction of movement of such first carriage meansand in overlying relation to said upper table, said second carriagemeans including a second guide member projecting therefrom perpendicularto the direction of movement of such second carriage means and inoverlying relation to said upper table; manually movable means forpositioning said first and second carriage means in selected positionswith respect to said pattern, said manually movable means slidablyengaging both said first and said second guide members and including apoint-indicating member adapted to be aligned with a desired Point onsaid pattern; first tractor means for rectilinear movement on said framealong a path parallel to the direction of movement of said firstcarriage means, said first tractor means including reversible drivemeans for effecting movement back and forth along said path and a trackmember projecting perpendicular to said path in overlying relation tosaid lower table; second tractor means for rectilinear movement on saidtrack member parallel to the direction of movement of said secondcarriage means, said second tractor means including reversible drivemeans for effecting movement back and forth along said track member;stylus means carried by said second tractor means for selectedengagement with said member to be scribed; first manual control meansfor causing the drive means of said first tractor means to position saidfirst tractor means in predetermined relation to said first carriagemeans and second manual control means for causing the drive means ofsaid second tractor means to position said second tractor means inpredetermined relation to said second carriage means, whereby saidstylus means is aligned with the member to be scribed in accord with aselected point on the pattern; and third manual control means forengaging said stylus means with the member to be scribed duringactuation of either said first or said second manual control means.
 2. Amachine as defined in claim 1 including control means for automaticallyactuating the drive means of said first and said second tractor means tocause said stylus means always to follow said first and second carriagemeans in one direction of movement each thereof.
 3. A machine as definedin claim 2 wherein said first and said second manual control means areeffective to move said first and said second tractor means only in thosedirections opposite to said one direction of said first and said secondcarriage means.
 4. A machine as defined in claim 3 including a firsttoothed latch bar paralleling the direction of movement of said firsttractor means, said first tractor means including latch means forselectively engaging said first latch bar and switch means engageablewith said first carriage means for actuating said latch means; andincluding a second toothed latch bar carried by said track member andparalleling the direction of movement of said second tractor means, saidsecond tractor means including second latch means for selectivelyengaging said second latch bar and switch means engageable with saidsecond carriage means for actuating said second latch means.
 5. Amachine as defined in claim 4 wherein each latch bar is provided with aplurality of sets of teeth of different pitch corresponding to differentline spacings on a pattern, and means for selectively presenting any ofsaid sets of teeth for engagement by the respective latch means.
 6. Amachine as defined in claim 5 including switch means on each tractormeans for slowing a respective drive means when same is in the vicinityof a respective carriage means.